[OCHO4I]

Any update on the locking latches? (The lid on my 60 needs the protection!)

[NLXTACY]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

We'll see how it plays out. They are close enough that if they were set next to each other you wouldn't be able to see the differences right away.

Then I would be fine with it. If form, fit and function is there then good enough for me. The reason I say is that I am either going to just keep the carpet over it, hidden. Or adding a slab of aluminum in place of the carpet, adding piano hinge, another piece of identical aluminum with poker table legs added. That way I have a ready made picnic table. Just trying to think outside the box.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by OCHO4I

Any update on the locking latches? (The lid on my 60 needs the protection!)

Sort of, they didn't send me the right samples so I have more on order. But I will post a pic of the one I have (picture exactly what you have, in bright stainless). The good news is that they just came out with a direct replacement for the ones you have, in plastic, that are lockable. So while not as secure as the stainless ones, they should be considerably cheaper.

NLXTACY
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinmrowland
We'll see how it plays out. They are close enough that if they were set next to each other you wouldn't be able to see the differences right away.
Then I would be fine with it. If form, fit and function is there then good enough for me. The reason I say is that I am either going to just keep the carpet over it, hidden. Or adding a slab of aluminum in place of the carpet, adding piano hinge, another piece of identical aluminum with poker table legs added. That way I have a ready made picnic table. Just trying to think outside the box.

Send me a note or email outlining what your concept here is, not the structural iteration, but the "why" behind what you want to accomplish, I may be able to make provisions for it within the design of your lid.
The lid is basically the same size, profile and thickness of the current carpet, including coming all the way to the top lip, so that does not leave much room for keeping the current carpet.

[NLXTACY]

Hey Kevin, nm my lame thoughts. I took another look at what the 80s lids look like and its totally fine as is. No need to have me mess with it. The folding table idea was something I was thinking of a long time ago and I think I just brought the two together in my head. Soo looking forward to it.

[kevinmrowland]

As promised, here is a picture of one of the locking latches (still not the right one )
It is a 1/4 turn compression latch, which in itself is a major upgrade, and has some semblance of a lock, but I am not very impressed with the security.
I have the right version of this latch on the way, and a plastic locking version of the regular latch (but it is still not a compression latch).
I am thinking that a better route might be to just get a barrel lock that could be installed in another hole. I would still like to have an upgraded latch option though.

[NLXTACY]

Hey Kevin, just out of curiosity, have any of the 60 owners mentioned anything about stuff in the tailgate denting the tailgate enough to show on the outside of the lid? I was just thinking that will a bunch of recovery gear or stuff like that floating around that any number of large bumps would make the heavy stuff smack around the inside of the tailgate. I was thinking about using some sound deadener anyway which would help I would think.

[kevinmrowland]

There haven't been any reports of dented tailgates, most everyone puts sound deadening in there, so that would seem to negate the issue, and I don't really advocate putting a bunch of heavy stuff in the tailgate (neither will your wife when she goes to close it).

[NLXTACY]

Yeah wasn't planning to put in anything too heavy. Mainly I was just thinking all the recovery gear. Getting reaaaally excited

[OCHO4I]

I’ve had my 3-foot pry bar, axe, mechanical come-along, snatch strap and a few other recovery items in the tailgate storage area of my 60 with no problems. Of course, I did line the interior of the tailgate with sound deadening material as recommended by Kevin when I installed the lid, so everything moves around nice and silently with no damage I’ve been able to detect to the tailgate. (But boy, it sure would be nice to be able to lock up the tailgate storage area once those stainless locking latches become available!)

[IndianDoc]

Originally Posted by OCHO4I

I’ve had my 3-foot pry bar, axe, mechanical come-along, snatch strap and a few other recovery items in the tailgate storage area of my 60 with no problems. Of course, I did line the interior of the tailgate with sound deadening material as recommended by Kevin when I installed the lid, so everything moves around nice and silently with no damage I’ve been able to detect to the tailgate. (But boy, it sure would be nice to be able to lock up the tailgate storage area once those stainless locking latches become available!)

It would be nice , but nicer still would be getting the storage space in the first place. Patiently waiting my turn. Love the idea of the locks and will want them installed when my tailgate come due. Heavy Plastic lids too!

[kevinmrowland]

Yeah, you're still pretty far down that list huh.
This weekend I am making a new version that might just revolutionize my production. You will have yours in August Kevin.
And Hector, you will get your locks as soon as I get mine! Still thinking stainless, or are you interested in the plastic? It is tough to stomach the price on those stainless ones.

[Trapper50cal]

Well,

I saw durangodds's tailgate storage mod.

Sign me up and let me know, when you get to me just make me the most recent version, I trust you.

Add me to the list and PM me for instructions on how to proceed.

Beautiful mod

Trapper50cal
(Justin Travis)
83 FJ60 - Ingrid

PS: if the plastic lid is strong enough for a fat man (250lbs) to sit on, I'll upgrade to that...if not, no thank you
I flyfish an usually use the tailgate to put my waders and wading boots on.

[kevinmrowland]

The plastic lid is strong enough for you and a couple of your friends to jump up and down on.
Tell Durango "hi" for me, he has one of the lids from the first batch and has been pimpin Wagon Gear over on Expo, and apparently to you as well.

[Trapper50cal]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

The plastic lid is strong enough for you and a couple of your friends to jump up and down on.
Tell Durango "hi" for me, he has one of the lids from the first batch and has been pimpin Wagon Gear over on Expo, and apparently to you as well.

Will do, he's a real nice guy. About to buy his defender rack. It's amazing how many great folks the Landcruiser community has introduced to me. I noticed his was an early one, He said he wanted the side panels too but he couldn't due to the proffitts internal cage. I will prob. buy one due to the fact that I will be mounting my air tank back there, I just don't know what side yet. Now....get me on that tailgate list! (please)

[Trapper50cal]

Woo-Hoo!!!!

[kevinmrowland]

On the website too.

[Trapper50cal]

Roger that, Thanks!

Now quit surfin and get crankin' ! (just kidding)

Only 30 or so in front of me! Should have it by CM09 right?

[kevinmrowland]

Well, it may seem impossible, , but I intend to bang those out rather quick, as in this summer.
I have been updating and changing the process all along, but I have finally nailed down a construction upgrade that will make them much faster to produce, and improve consistency and the overall finish.
I have the latest prototype constructed and I will post some pictures of the changes. It will be in full testing mode soon, but it holds up as good, if not a bit better in my strength tests than the first generation frames.
I also need to get these competed as soon as possible because my prices rise every time I make them. With the rate the materials are climbing, I will not be able to produce them a this price for much longer.

[Trapper50cal]

Stock up what yah can...
I, for one, am patient, it's a great product, worth waiting for
(even worth paying more if you have to raise the price at some point)

[Exiled]

Having two of the storage-challenged beasts in the garage, I'm eagerly awaiting your 100 series offering...(hint, hint)!

[kevinmrowland]

Yeah, I'm interested in taking a look at the 100s, but I don't think the soccer moms at Wegman's would understand if I asked to look at their tailgates, and since those are the only ones I see around here, it may be awhile.
Seriously though, the first one of you I run across with a 100, expect to be delayed while I examine the tailgate.

And on stock, yeah, I do what I can, but even at this rate I have about 6k in inventory just with the hardware and parts, kind of daunting for a weekend cottage industry. I've got one drawer that at any given time has 2.5 to 3k just in stainless hardware.

Anyway, check this out, second generation tailgate lids:

[kevinmrowland]

Construction detail:

[NLXTACY]

Wow that is good looking!!

[Trapper50cal]

And on stock, yeah, I do what I can, but even at this rate I have about 6k in inventory just with the hardware and parts, kind of daunting for a weekend cottage industry. I've got one drawer that at any given time has 2.5 to 3k just in stainless hardware.

Fair enough!
The new pics look great!

[kevinmrowland]

Got the locking version of the plastic latches in today, these are exactly the same as the normal latches, but with a piddly little lock.
I wasn't really impressed with the security of the stainless 1/4 turn latches (which are at least 1/4 turn) due to the basic key blank (which the plastic locks share) so needles to say, I am not impressed.
To top it all off, I can break the lock with a strong pull on the latch, I have quite strong hands (if I do say so myself) but still not very encouraging from a security standpoint.
The stainless 1/4 turns are at least a nice upgrade from the push-to-close, but the lock itself is not really very secure.
For real security I think it may be better to develop a lock cylinder option separate from the latches. In either case a pry-bar would provide quick access.
Opinions?

[kevinmrowland]

And the broken latch:

[Corbet]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Opinions?

Our doors have locks. If someone has taken the time to get the truck open whatever latch you add is not going to stop them. Skip the locks and keep the price down. Or offer it both ways?

[NLXTACY]

If it has a lock, it requires a search warrant

BUT CORBET has a good point. It really doesn't matter how bad-a$$ the lock is, its still a plastic lid. Its NOT going to take much effort to get into it. I only really care about it being secure. So a good latch is far more important than a good lock. Besides if someone is inside the truck, the damage is already done.

[kevinmrowland]

Not to worry, the standard latch is the standard latch and will remain so. I choose it for simplicity and cost effectiveness, there are better ones out there, but I do not intend to make these any more expensive than they have to be.
The only reason I am going down the lock route is that there has been a lot of interest in that option. I don't intend to lock mine, because how many people would bother to think to look INSIDE your tailgate? Or your side panels for that matter.
I like the 1/4 turn option, not necessarily for the lock, but for the 1/4 turn compression, there would be NO way for those latches to come open unintentionally, a very nice feature, but if you look at a full set (2 side panels and one tailgate) of storage compartments, an upgrade to the 1/4 turns (locking or not) would be $300 extra dollars.
As much as I would like those for my own truck, I don't think I could ever justify the expense!
Just trying to feel things out because that box of latches would be a massive investment.


Oh, and Joey, even though the lids are "plastic" they are incredibly resilient. You would need a full size crow bar and some serious elbow grease to deform them to the point that the 1/4 turns would fail. On the other hand, you could give the plastic latches a tap with a hammer and be done with them.

[NLXTACY]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Oh, and Joey, even though the lids are "plastic" they are incredibly resilient. You would need a full size crow bar and some serious elbow grease to deform them to the point that the 1/4 turns would fail. On the other hand, you could give the plastic latches a tap with a hammer and be done with them.

LOL, sounds good to me then!